Qualified for NAPS?

[Hopeful2025]

I know NAPS is made for people who the academy believe need more academic prep before going to the academy itself. My question is would a person with a very strong upward trend be a good candidate for NAPS? I started out high school lacking heavily and my GPA is heavily affected by my freshman year, but the past two semesters I have finished with a 4.5/4.7 GPA. So when looking at my transcript, admissions would see how i got very strong towards the later end of high school. Because I started doing well toward the end, yet my overall GPA was held down by my freshman year, would that still make me in high consideration for NAPS?

 

[demolition]

I had the same situation. Lower GPA freshman year of HS and worked up to about a 4.5. I was not considered for NAPS. So my guess is probably not, but you never know.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

To be honest, probably not ... If you have demonstrated the ability to perform at high academic levels the last couple years -- you arent the target audience. You've already developed the skills they try to prepare you for at NAPS. That said, the Admission Board doesn't look at GPA in a vacuum -they will see your upward trend. Emphasize this in your BGO interview so he /she comments to draw attention. It is far better to end your HS career with an upward trend than downward !

 

[Hopeful2025]

I had the same situation. Lower GPA freshman year of HS and worked up to about a 4.5. I was not considered for NAPS. So my guess is probably not, but you never know.

did you get accepted on your first go or were you are reapplicant?

 

[Hopeful2025]

To be honest, probably not ... If you have demonstrated the ability to perform at high academic levels the last couple years -- you arent the target audience. You've already developed the skills they try to prepare you for at NAPS. That said, the Admission Board doesn't look at GPA in a vacuum -they will see your upward trend. Emphasize this in your BGO interview so he /she comments to draw attention. It is far better to end your HS career with an upward trend than downward !

does the classes in which I got lower grades matter? USNA is a STEM heavy school but my lower grades were in subjects like math, chemistry, physics, etc, while my higher grades that were As were in humanities and things like english and history. Would that make any difference when considering for NAPS or no?

 

[2024dude]

From other threads that I have read, I believe NAPS candidates are characters with strong potential leadership that may be unsatisfactory but have potential in an area such as academics, physical capability, or one of the many unknown factors of the selection process of admissions.

does the classes in which I got lower grades matter? (...) Would that make any difference when considering for NAPS or no?

We cannot speak for the academy in if things matter or not/if differences would be made in consideration for your offer. We can encourage you to reach high than what you were and maintaining a strong upward trend.

So when looking at my transcript, admissions would see how i got very strong towards the later end of high school.

This sounds like it is worth more in character than what you are selling. Admissions and your blue and gold officer would love to hear about the Why as well as the How of your journey cultivating an upward trend in high school from unfortunate circumstances.

I would like to say that I hope you continue aiming for the academy and do not limit yourself in hopes to be selected for NAPS.

If you are interested to learn more about NAPS then please read through the NAPS Student Information Guide on the NAPS Information page: https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Accepted/NAPS.php.

Other than that, I would love to see you succeed and maintain your training as a potential candidate.

 

[demolition]

did you get accepted on your first go or were you are reapplicant?

Reapplicant. Did a year at a 4-year university and got good grades.

 

[pilot2b]

Anyone who gives you a definitive answer to this is wrong. I had a guy in my NAPS class with a perfect 800 SAT math score (the other sections were good as well). I don't know for certain, but I'm fairly certain his grades in high school were also good.

I had a 3.5 in high school (unweighted) with plenty of AP and honors courses and an SAT of about 2100. I had a direct appointment to USAFA. I went to NAPS. I have a suspicion why I was selected to be there, but it has nothing to do with academics and I have no solid proof of the reason.

 

[sanman]

Anyone who gives you a definitive answer to this is wrong. I had a guy in my NAPS class with a perfect 800 SAT math score (the other sections were good as well). I don't know for certain, but I'm fairly certain his grades in high school were also good.

I had a 3.5 in high school (unweighted) with plenty of AP and honors courses and an SAT of about 2100. I had a direct appointment to USAFA. I went to NAPS. I have a suspicion why I was selected to be there, but it has nothing to do with academics and I have no solid proof of the reason.

There is an assumption by many that an appointment to a Prep school means that the candidate lacked academically. My understanding which this post confirms is that isn’t the case. It may well be the case for the majority but not all. People still don’t seem to understand that admittance selections to both the academies and prep schools are based on the whole candidate not just one item.

My advice to you is that you should do what is needed to make your application as strong as it can be and that includes academics, leadership, athletics/sports, community involvement, strength of character etc. Then trust the process.